Welcome to the MAFO Practicum Search Process!

1. Welcometo the MAFO Practicum Search Process! Today’s Discussion: General Overview Things To Do & Think About Professional Behavior and Identity Development

2. Review: What is APP? • The liaison between: • Students and Training Sites • Sites and TCS • Students and Faculty (such as seminar leaders, advisors, etc.) • APP provides mentorship, support, & consultation around all aspects of clinical training • APP oversees preparation for placement and performance at practicum • Site development and maintenance

3. Who helps me with . . . ?

4. E-mail Schedule an appointment Drop in during business hours Call/Voicemail How Can I Access APP?

5. What is Practicum? Applied Clinical Training Professional Development

6. Licensure Track: Individual Therapy Group Therapy Psychological Assessments Intake Assessments Court Attendance Court Advocacy Outreach Programming Case Management Charting Clerical/Administrative Non-licensure Track: Intake Assessments Case Management Court Advocacy Education/Prevention Outreach Programming Consultation within and between organizations Court Attendance Research Documentation Clerical/Administrative Types of Activities for Licensure and Non-licensure Practicum/Internships

7. Where can I do my practicum?

8. LICENSURE TRACK: Minimum Total of 700 hours over the course of the training year (2-3 days per week, in addition to classes) 9-12 months on site 40-60% face to face contact with clients 1 hour of weekly supervision with a licensed clinician (LCPC,LCSW, LFMT, Licensed Psychologist) Seminar Class NON-LICENSURE TRACK: Minimum Total of 700 hours over the course of the training year (2-3 days per week, in addition to classes) 9-12 months on site Regular Client Contact 1 hour of individual, weekly supervision with a competent individual in the field Seminar Class TCS Requirements for MAFO Practica

9. Types of Clinical Activities for Licensure and Non-licensure Practica/Internships • First 100 hours of Practicum usually involves education about and orientation to the organization (e.g. structure, charting, learning about the clinical population, policies & procedures) • Completing the necessary coursework (e.g. domestic violence or sexual assault coursework) • Completing background checks if necessary – required at correctional facilities, DCFS ward, etc.

10. ACEPT: Association of Chicagoland Externships and Practicum Training Sites

11. Phases in the Search Process • CV and Cover Letter preparation • Site Selection (Late January) • Application (Early February) • Interviewing (begins in February) • Placement Season (March – September)

12. Resources to Assist You • Mandatory large group meetings (Nov.) • APP Practicum Manual • APP Database (Access in mid-December) • APP EGO page • CV review & interviewing workshops • ACEPT Practicum Fair (January 14, 2011) • Individualized assistance as needed

13. APP Professional Training Database • APP is launching a new database this Fall. • Functions: • Site information database • Electronic student training file • Resources to help you navigate the database include: • Student manual • Training podcasts • Accessing the database: • Website: http://runipt.com/chicago • Username and password is the same as your email account

14. Things to do now . . . Craft your CV and have it reviewed! APP will be reviewing CV’s from November 1st until November 24th; Career Services will also provide individual appointments Get clinical related experience: Forensic Center, Service Learning, Community - Based Research, Volunteer, Part-time Job Foster professional relationships with your advisor, professors, peers, connections in the field, etc. (Remember you will need strong letters of recommendation!)

15. Things to do now . . . Join Professional Organizations: IPA/IPAGS, APA/APAGS Attend TCS Colloquia, Local Professional Conferences, Networking Events Take advantage of student leadership opportunities, Join TCS student organizations

16. Supervision How to Choose Sites Professional Goals Fit w/ Environment Training Experiences

17. Things to Think About . . . Think about your long-term goals (private practice, federal prison, court liaison) and the steps you will need to take to get there. And consider: • What skill sets you need (i.e. familiarity with severe psychopathology, knowledge of domestic violence, court systems, individual differences, etc.) • The “market” and climate of mental health (i.e. funding cuts, areas of growth, etc.) • Licensure versus non-licensure

18. Don’t Despair! • The practicum search process mirrors a real job search so it inevitably feels competitive, anxiety provoking, and tedious at times. • Patience, optimism, flexibility, and consistent communication with APP goes a loooooong way! • If you learn of information that differs from that which is provided on our database, please contact APP as soon as possible!

19. Bumps Along the Road to Placement… You may be approved to apply to a site, but . . . • A site never confirms receipt of your application • A site does not return your calls/e-mails • The primary contact person on the APP database left the site and your application is . . . where? • The site decides it will not offer training . . . after receiving applications • The site decides it will not offer training . . . after interviewing • The site loses funding/staff supervisors after you have been offered a position

20. Bumps Along the Road to Placement • No transportation, so reliance upon public transportation and limited search (Chicago only) • Sending materials that are not reviewed • Not applying to all approved sites • Not attending all interviews • Not prepared for interview questions • Not consistently checking e-mail updates or reminders

21. Top Compliments from Supervisors • Appreciate forensic training…it provides students with a better sense of legal issues that come up for clients. • Offering fresh ideas and initiative • Possessing energy to complete tasks and projects that staff often don’t have time to do • Heightened self-reflection in supervision: allows for personal and professional growth • Willingness to ask questions and learn

22. Top Complaints from Supervisors • Applicants lacked professionalism: • Improper attire • Sloppy materials (i.e. typos, cover letters not signed, letters not tailored to site, writing samples did not conceal identifying information, etc.) • Lack of interest/initiative on site: browsing internet, making personal phone calls, taking time off without permission, etc)

23. Top Complaints from Supervisors • Applicants not a “good fit” due to lack of clinical skills & experience • Applicants are “book smart,” but do not adequately understand how to “sit with clients.” • Applicants seemed like a “deer in headlights” with clinical population and when presented with clinical scenarios

24. Toward Developing a Professional Identity: Self-reflect and identify clinical interests • What kind of work do I want to do? • What clinical population do I want to work with? • What clinical population am I less familiar with? • How will my personal experiences & beliefs impact my clinical work? • What will likely be my clinical strengths on practicum? What will be my areas of growth?

25. Toward Developing a Professional Identity • Consider: How do I represent myself both personally and professionally? • Appearance and attire (neck lines, rise of pants and hem lines, body art, piercings, high ticket items, etc.) • Personal and Professional Identifiers (voicemail, e-mail signature) • Communication (professional and courteous) • Comportment (attendance, promptness, general demeanor, acceptance of all tasks, follow through on tasks, recall that you’re a guest on site) • Relationships (be a team player, accept & incorporate feedback)

26. Other Resources for Professional Behavior and Comportment • TCS Handbook • APA Ethics Code • TCS Faculty • APP (individual meetings, consultation, workshops) • Career Services (workshops, networking, etc.) • Mentors and other Professionals